John DeShazier's favorite New Orleans Saints midseason quotes

New Orleans Saints senior writer John DeShazier takes a look at his favorite quotes at the midway point

“At the moment, it’s in the games and you’re trying to do whatever possible to end with a win. But it’s something that, postgame, you definitely think about and you kind of reflect on what it’s taken to get to that point, and the amount of time and effort that has gone into it. But, really, it’s going to be five, 10 years down the road and looking back, seeing a huge accomplishment there.” – Receiver Marques Colston, prior to the season opener against Atlanta, when his first reception would make him the Saints’ all-time leader in career receptions.

“His ability to make plays out of the backfield is special, but he can do everything from the backfield as well. He can run inside, run outside, can pick up pass protection, he’s very smart, aware – pound for pound, one of the best football players I’ve ever played with.” – Quarterback Drew Brees, on the 5-foot-6, 190-pound Darren Sproles.

“He does not get the credit he deserves. But he’s a quiet, soft-spoken, come-to-work, get-the-job-done kind of guy. The story is yet to be written. I think he still has a bunch of good years left. Yes, he’s about to break these records and it’s significant, but I don’t think he would want to even look back on that right now. I think his sights are set on what we’re going to accomplish this season and at the end of his career he can look back and say, ‘What was my legacy?’ And we all can look back and say, ‘Man, it was pretty impressive.’ ” – Brees on Colston.

“You just hope that you’re in a position to where more of them go your way than not because arguably, half the games in this league are decided by the last possession and at times, the last play. You could say, certainly, that’s been the case for our team. Three out of the six games have come down to, literally, the last play.” – Brees, on the close games the Saints have played.

“I’m encouraged that there are a handful of things that we’re going to be able to improve on and work on. We haven’t played our best football and we’re sitting at 5-1.” – Coach Sean Payton.

“We said we wanted to do something we’d never done before.” Running back Pierre Thomas, who caught two touchdown passes in the Saints’ 26-18 victory in Chicago. The Saints had lost their previous three games at Soldier Field under Payton.

“He had common sense, and he had a lot of sayings that made a lot of sense. Bum never really coached football, he coached life. He was very, very special.” – Former Saints defensive tackle Derland Moore, a member of the Saints Hall of Fame, on Bum Phillips, after the passing of the former Saints coach in October.

“This is definitely the team that I envisioned playing on, the organization I planned on being with. This year, everything I hoped for and wanted … I knew when I made my decision that this is the team I was going to be playing on, was going to be playing in big games, having a chance to go to the playoffs and eventually playing in the Super Bowl.” – Linebacker Curtis Lofton, on the difference between this year’s team and last year’s team.

“In order to be the best, you have to compete against the best and obviously, he’s one of the best in the league. You’re not necessarily going to gameplan to stay away from somebody. You might not go at him as much as someone else. But I think that he’s a guy that’s human, just like the rest of us. He’s a very talented player. But nobody wins every single down out there.” – Moore, on Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis.

“It was such a blessing to get a chance to come here. It’s a big deal. When you go to an organization like this, it’s like winning the lottery. I was fortunate enough to do it.” – Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

“Rob (Ryan) has been putting us in pretty good situations. He knows everybody’s strengths and he knows our weaknesses – just playing to everybody’s strength and putting us in great positions to make plays. And our players have been stepping up.” – Outside linebacker Junior Galette.

“The thing that’s disappointing about (Sunday) is we knew, getting off the bus, this was a team that was going to run the football. They knew they were going to run the football. I think everyone at MetLife Stadium knew they were going to run the football, and we weren’t able to stop them.” – Coach Sean Payton, on the Jets being able to run for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries in New York’s 26-20 win.